Month: April 2022

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” (1 Peter 1:13). We may hope to be saved, but this is not the kind of hope Peter talks about in the passage above. He invites us to set our hope on God’s grace. In God’s grace there is room for me. I am not perfect. I am a sinner. I deserve to be condemned and to die. God’s grace assures my salvation. I don’t deserve it, but I can have it because of Christ’s grace extended to me. This is the kind of hope that gives me peace.

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The Ooltewah Pathfinders had a wonderful time at Cohutta Springs last weekend. They were there for the spring camporee. On Sabbath one of our Pathfinders, Debbie Bee, was baptized by David Reynolds. Congratulations, Debbie!

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The Cancer Support Group had their first meeting on April 4. Seven people attended the session and had a nice time sharing their personal experiences. They hope to grow and get more participants from the community. They all believe it’s an important ministry. Everything said in the group is confidential. Heidy Pino is thankful for her husband Ed’s leadership in making this a healing environment for cancer patients, survivors and family members to process their emotions.

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The Light of Hope continues to actively support the suffering people in Ukraine. Every dollar contributed goes to feed and to provide shelter to thousands of displaced families. In the last few days I was contacted by two orphanages in Ukraine. They are overwhelmed with the number of children moved from the war zones to their facilities. I am so glad that we could help them buy food, fuel for the water heaters, basic hygiene items, and clothes.

Many students from Bucha Adventist seminary, who had to evacuate from the Russian invasion, are now helping these orphans in the newly established camps. They do their best to remain positive and to share hope with the children. Watch this short video sent to me by the director of the camp for the orphans.

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Don’t forget about the Vespers program at our church tonight. Students from Great Lakes Academy will lead at the Vespers program. Tomorrow the students will lead at both services. I am looking forward to a great spiritual feast.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET ABOUT THE POTLUCK TOMORROW. BRING AN EXTRA DISH TO SHARE WITH THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

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Hugs and blessings,

Pastor Peter

Moses had courage to ask God for something that was unimaginable … to see God’s glory. Moses wasn’t rude or arrogant. His request was the result of his close relationship with God. They talked all the time. They shared the same mission. Moses knew God’s voice and His character, but he wanted more. If we grow in our relationship with God we will always want more and more of Him. When I go to visit my little grandchildren I always laugh when I hear them say, “I want you, Grandpa!” They know that I have a job and many other responsibilities, but they eagerly pull me into their play area… Come, be with me, play with me. I want you. That’s how Moses felt about God. Do you feel the same way about your God?

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The worship service last Sabbath was absolutely perfect. I feel sorry for all of you who went somewhere else and missed the uplifting music of the orchestra and the choir. Not many churches are as blessed as the Ooltewah Adventist Church. Thank you, Mary Wilcox. Thank you, Larry.

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The Pathfinders had a great time during their pool party last Sunday. David shared a few photos and a brief report below.

“The Pathfinders went last Sunday to the pool at SAU and completed swimming honors started earlier in the year at Fort Mountain Lake during one of our campouts. They also enjoyed just mingling and diving in the pool and snacks.”

This weekend the Pathfinders are down at Cohutta Springs for Camporee.

Are your children members of the Pathfinder Club at our church? If not, talk to David Reynolds.

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The Cornerstone Building fund is constantly growing. Thank you for your wonderful support. The elders recommended to set a new goal of reaching 1.5 million by September 1, 2022. Please pray about your participation in this ministry growth.

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The war in Ukraine is bringing horrible devastation to millions of people. Thank you for your loving and generous support. Your donations are being sent daily to various regions of Ukraine. You are helping them with food, shelter, refugee camps, text books for the children, etc. Pastor Lev, the East Conference president shared the following video with me from Mariupol. It is a very short video. At the very end of it you’ll see our SDA church building (on the right side of the road) completely destroyed. It was in that building that I preached just 3 years ago. Great pain … the darkness of the evil in this world.

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Your donations helped refugee children buy text books and school supplies. Bread is being distributed in the capital city. The war has engulfed the whole country.

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I hope to see you in church tomorrow.

Hugs and prayers for each one of you.

pastor Peter

Jesus came to Bethany when His friend Lazarus was in the grave. Martha and Mary were grieving. Jesus spoke to Martha before bringing Lazarus back to life. He told her that the Resurrection is not just an event. It is the person of Jesus Christ . His words are filled with power, assurance and hope. He spoke about the future, but also about the present. He is THE LIFE. That life can be ours when we allow Christ to enter our “Bethany.” Our home, our community or our church can be resurrected to a new life which is in Christ the Victor.

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As I am typing this blog post I am praying about the first night of the evangelistic meetings starting in Eastern Europe. People living in that part of the world need hope like never before. These meetings are being broadcasted on cable networks, social media outlets and YouTube channels. They cover the many time zones all the way to the Far East. Let the power of God be revealed in a mighty way!

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Men’s ministry update: “Aubri’s deck is completed. Special thank you to all the guys who helped on this large project. And to the ladies who helped Aubri cleanup the yard as well. Word is she loved all the help and fellowship of the project. …  Had another quick little cleanup for Ms. Adele Dahlberg as well. Just a few small branches and and sticks on the roof and one larger branch that had come down and lodged in the tree trunk. I am glad we could assist her!”

Just a note. It is the Men’s Ministry project, but we have ladies working side by side with the men. Thank you, ladies 🙂

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Ooltewah Prayer Warriors had their quarterly lunch at Sondra’s house. They come together to coordinate their lists and schedules, to pray together, and to fellowship around the table. Sondra was happy that 17 people were able to attend this event. Here are a few photos from that lunch.

Sondra, Thank you for your leadership in this ministry. We all feel the blessings of many prayers offered daily for our church, our families and our community.

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Early morning last Saturday a group of our church members prepared breakfast for a large group of people in the Chattanooga Community kitchen. This is such a great way to show that we care! Thank you, everyone, who came to help with the breakfast, to meet these dear people and to pray with them. I received many photos from that event, and here are just a few of them:

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Last Monday the Connect committee brought together our church ministries leaders. It was an excellent way to help them know about various resources offered by the church. More than that it was a good time for the ministry leaders to get to know one another, and to see how their ministry can join hands with other church ministries in achieving the same goal of service and support. Thank you, Mike Haughee, for coordinating the program!

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This Sabbath morning both worship services will take place in the Fellowship Hall. All the musicians and singers participating in the worship service cannot fit on the sanctuary platform. I am looking forward to a great worship experience tomorrow. We will celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death! He is our Risen Savior.

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Your support for Ukraine brings help and hope to thousands of people in the war zones. Just this morning I talked to pastor Krupsky. He is the Hope Channel Ukraine Director. Their studios in Bucha were vandalized… Their staff had to flee to a safer place in the Western side of the country. Many of them are young families with small children. They left everything behind, but they keep broadcasting from mobile devices. They are not losing heart. Some of your funds were used to provide food and clothing for the Hope Channel Ukraine families. They used the funds also to buy school supplies for the children.

Pastor Vertylo sent us a message a few days ago from the eastern region of Ukraine. Him and his team of pastors keep moving families from the areas of active war to safer locations. They use your funds to provide food and shelter for the children and the elderly. He asked me to share with you his words of appreciation and his hugs of love.

Here is a link to a video recorder by our SDA pastor in Mariupol who stayed there as long as possible. The narration is in Russian, but it help us see the pain through the eyes of a child.

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See you tomorrow! Happy Sabbath to you.

pastor Peter

“What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness, of those who feel rich and increased with goods? It is the want of the righteousness of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness…. They may be crying, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we,” while their hearts are filled with unholy traffic and unrighteous barter. The courts of the soul temple may be the haunt of envy, pride, passion, evil surmising, bitterness, and hollow formalism. Christ looks mournfully upon His professed people who feel rich and increased in the knowledge of the truth, and who are yet destitute of the truth in life and character.” The Review and Herald, August 7, 1894 EGW

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Last Sunday our church Health Ministry team offered help to the people in our community. It was a thoroughly prepared event. Ann Weeden and her crew brought a Mammogram Van from Memorial hospital, pitched a tent on the parking lot of the Samaritan Center and organized consultation stations inside the Samaritan Center. I felt so blessed to see that our church cares about the needs of the people in our area. Those who attended the Health Expo also received delicious healthy cookies and spiritual literature. Thank you, EVERYONE, who came to help last Sunday.

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Our Sabbath worship services last Sabbath were enriched with music from the CA band!

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These last few days I was in the Hope Channel studio at the General Conference recording a new series of messages in Russian for Eastern Europe. I pray that these messages bring hope and encouragement to those who are struggling today in the war-torn zones. Thank you for your prayerful support. I felt honored that our Ooltewah Church is behind this important outreach ministry.

Your financial gifts for the people of Ukraine keep providing food and shelter to hundreds of struggling families. Last night and this morning I was on the phone with the Conference leaders and pastors in various parts of Ukraine. They all shared with me a picture of horrific devastation. They are sincerely thankful that your help allows them to move families from Mariupol and Kharkiv to safer locations on the western side of Ukraine. They are grateful for the bread they can bake. They offer that bread to hundreds of hungry people in Kyev, Kharkiv and other cities. God bless you, my caring friends.

Here is just one photo of the help you provide. This photo is from pastor Yuri, the Union Health Center Director.

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See you tomorrow.

pastor Peter